I love fashion. Now, I’m not one of those people who’s obsessed with it – ok I’m obsessed with it. However, somehow I happen to be one of those extremely rare types who gushes over sleek, sexy cocktail dresses, dies for that perfectly embellished belt, and all the rest… but rarely if ever actually buys anything. I have my Dad to thank for that. That’s called genetic code, and my Dad invented the “save your money” chromosome (or whatever; I wasn’t a biology major). He isn’t cheap, not at all, but he DOES NOT BELIEVE IN DISCRETIONARY INCOME. Some of you may be thinking this is a good trait; that I’m lucky. You think I’m lucky to be a born saver? Tell that to my wardrobe. Tell that to my three pairs of shoes. Tell that to my “Winner” Brand black sneakers I got in 7th grade, because my Dad didn’t “understand why you need the Nike ones? These are just as good.” Yeah, you know who you can tell that to? Each and every member of my 7th grade French class. Because they all had a lot to say about those kicks and it didn’t have anything to do with how right my dad was.

As an aside, I learned something from my brand-less K-12 existence: when I have children, I will teach them to be good people, and I will not spoil the crap out of them. But I WILL give them name brand clothing if they ask for it. You may consider that a bad idea, but a little less suffering in those formative years never hurt anybody. *The more you know.*

I digress… back to fashion love. Sometimes… there comes along an accessory. An accessory that reduces all other accessories to cheap whores, and makes me click “buy” without hesitation. (Ok, without much hesitation.) This accessory would need to be the perfect combination of absolute cuteness, real necessity and bang for your buck. Enter: the belts and dresses within this post. OMG.

See that belt up at the tippity top of this post? That’s Ruche‘s wrap around a rose belt in swiss coffee, and it’s only $19.99. I KNOW. Here’s another shot of it:

I am obsessed with that belt, and even more with the ones that follow. Any one of these is THE PERFECT ACCESSORY to add that extra bit of awesome to your little e-shoot sundress or wedding gown or what have you. I’m always thinking about what will result in the best possible photos, and belts knock ‘em out of the park, without fail, my friends. Anthro dresses have never done me wrong, either. Here we go with the rest of my picks:

These belts restore my love for frilly floweryness. (Not that it ever really left me, but I get fed up easily with frilly floweryness. Only so much one can take.)

By the way, yesterday was my Dad’s birthday. Which means my present to him is complaining about a specific childhood experience to the world, one that completely goes against the incredible father he is to me. Aren’t I just the greatest daughter?!

Dad: I love you, man. You are terrific… so terrific that it makes me tear up when I think about just how terrific. That’s pretty terrific. Happy birthday, Popsicle.

Remember that fit I said I was having over an upcoming blog post? Well, here’s the culprit. That is, aside from the Nutella which a dear friend so helpfully pointed out was contributing to the twitches. Now’s as good a time as any to admit that I was essentially free-basing Nutella for the better half of yesterday. It was my first time, and I overdid it. I learned my lesson. No biggie. No big whoop. Who caaaaares?!! Ok, WHAT THE F IS GOING ON.

Now, when you go check it out, you’ll notice that yes, some of the dresses on there are decidedly slutty. Like, for example, the fact that they’re selling this as a “top,” in the “tops” section. Yes, just put those aside. If you can do that, there’s seriously not much more muck to trudge through on this site. Which leads me to the overwhelmed thing I started in on a few sentences ago. I tend to have this combined physical and mental response – I get all discombobulated – and it’s the result of seeing a bazillion adorable frocks, all at extremely fair prices. When the two chemically react with one another they cause my mind to blow up in ecstasy. Pure, unadulterated, magically delicious (and oh how perfect would it be if it was also sexual) ecstasy.

But putting aside my only recently surfacing unfulfilled desires for fashion-sex, I have some advice for you.

Wear one of these for your engagement photo session. If you do, you will like the way your pictures turn out. Trust.

Moon Terrace Dress

Souvenir Dress

Divine Approval Dress

Take It Slow Dress

Deft Precision Dress

Femme Fatale Dress

Boston Fancy Dress

Double Cross Dress

Sweetest Thing Dress

Paint the Roses Red Dress

Guess what? You can find all that yumminess over at LuLu’s. You’re welcome. ;)

By the way, that model is STUNNING, is she not? Maybe it’s really just her face and awesome hair that sell these threads for me. ‘Cause I am hook, line and sinker for each and every one of them. And I usually don’t adore an entire line like I do this one. But just look at that punim! I think she’s the only person in the world who could sell me a pair of overalls.

Some of these looks would work brilliantly as your (slightly risqué) reception frock, no? Like this one, for instance:

There’s something about this dress that I love… alas, I’m a mere 5’4, and this shape requires HEIGHT. So I shall continue to admire it from afar (as is so often my fate!).

Love the lace going on here – very bridal. Not a HUGE fan of the pants, but then again… 5’4.

When I saw a few of these precious little frocks featured on Utterly Engaged, I fell head over heels in love with J.Crew’s flower girl line. I’m pretty sure you will, too. Now, I may have gone a little overboard in this post – I’ve included what seems to be nearly every gown they offer, from silk taffeta to dupioni to tousled tulle. But you know what? I post what I love, and I love pretty much all of them, so why stop at five when I love 15? You get me.

Just wait until you scroll down. It’s not only the dresses that have me swooning; their little girl shoes are absolutely adorable, and the jewelry + embellishments they have available are simply too charming for words. Honestly, everything is so darling, it almost makes me sick.

Twinkle ballet flats! Oh, how delightful.

Patent-leather Mary Janes:

Satin ballet flats with rosettes:

Yup, they come in white, too.

Keeping it casual? Here’s a simple satin ballet flat for the little munchkin.

The only thing I love more than these silk organza flower pins, is the fact that they’re 30% off when you buy two or more of them. That’s kinda nice. Sadly, I don’t have a use for them, but I hope you do!

Aaaand finally, a few pearls to round out the look and add that oh so fine finishing touch.

There’s kind of a HUGE price disparity between the necklace and the bracelet, by the way. I don’t really understand it (aside from the obvious fact that we’re dealing with real and fake). Still, that bracelet is WAY less expensive than you probably think it is. Like, shockingly so. So, as my fiancé likes to kid – here’s today’s lesson in Economics 101 with Alison: why buy a little girl freshwater pearls when they make perfectly good fake ones? This way, when she misplaces or fully loses it sometime between when you give it to her and your ceremony, it won’t be that big of a deal. Because she probably will lose it. And you will get upset, if they were freshwater pearls. No, not normal you – the crazy, getting married version of you who’s capable of losing her temper in front of little girls.

Please forgive me: I just need to start off with a belt I LOOOOVE. I offer my sincerest apologies, because (gasp!) it’s the single item not on sale in this post. I know, I’m terrible. But I just had to include it. I hope you don’t mind!

I am a huge fan of belting dresses. Belts give you a waste when you’re wearing a loose frock, and can truly change everything about your look. They’re pretty much always an improvement. I don’t even know what I’d pair this one up with in my closet, I just loved it from the moment it greeted me on my computer screen. And you can’t choose who {or what} you love. Even with belts.